Mark Amoroso

Mark Amoroso helped rescue Michael Brenner from burning, Columbia, Illinois, December 8, 2024. Brenner, 71, was piloting a two-seat plane when he lost control and crashed upside down in a field. The plane’s engine area caught fire, and flames and smoke filled the cockpit. Brenner was trapped, as the impact of the crash had buried the plexiglass canopy about a foot deep in the soft dirt. Amoroso, 33, information technology consultant, and his brother-in-law, 35, saw the crash from their car about a half-mile away and ran to help. Amoroso called 911 while his brother-in-law sprinted ahead to the burning plane. The brother-in-law arrived at the plane and found Brenner upside down inside the cockpit, on fire, and calling out for help. After first trying to dig dirt away from the partially broken canopy without success, the brother-in-law kicked a hole in the canopy, but was unable to extract Brenner. He next tried to lift the wing, but it was too heavy. Amoroso then arrived and his brother-in-law told him to lift the tail. Amoroso lifted it about 3 feet off the ground, pulling the canopy free from the ground and giving his brother-in-law enough space to pull Brenner, whose clothing was on fire, out of the wreck and drag him to safety. Amoroso and his brother-in-law extinguished the flames on Brenner’s pants and then removed them. Brenner was transported by helicopter to a hospital. He had been badly burned and doctors later amputated his lower legs. Amoroso suffered minor scrapes on his arms and smoke inhalation, but did not seek medical treatment.

2024-0000424-10537